Circular-knitting machine.



H. A. HOUSEMAN. CRCULAR KNITTlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION PILBU APR.15,1913,

1,127,766. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

w/r/,ess/fs.1 /A/vE/vraf? Harry H'ousemarz av H. A HOUSEMAN. Gmcmzm. KNLTTING MAcHlNE. APPLIGATlON {1L-ED APR. 15, 1913` Patented Feb. 9, 1915 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/IV VE /V TOR Harry /owcman @y www W/T/VESSES:

uNiTED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HARRY HOUSIMAN, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD MACHINE COMPANY, OF IHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

' full, clear, and exact description, reference v Harold E.

being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part oithis specification.

In an ap lication filed by me, jointly with louseman, of even date herewith,

Serial No. 761,199, dated April 15, 1913,

there is set forth a circular knitting machine for the manufactureof hosiery, and especially that type of machine in which the heel. foot and toe; but no means vlimited `number of `'stop the machine,

needle cylinder rotates and the cam cylinder or cam ring remains stationary. Thismachine'is adapted to successively knit the leg, are set forth in said application to adapt it to the manufacture of half hose. The object ot"the present invention is to adapt said machine to the manufacture ot halt hose. In the manufacture of half hose, after the toe is completed, it is necessary to knit a round-and-round courses, press the stocking off the needlesLw-thdraw the needles from operative engagement with the ordinary knitting cams and level allneedlcs preparatory to the transferring operation, and then bring the vneedles again. into oper ative relation with the ordinary'knitting cams to permit the rel snmptinn. of circular knitting to knit the leg of another stocking.

In -the present invention, means are provided to permit andl eifect this operation, said means beingin part novel 79er se, and in part such novel means combined' with certain'inechanisin set forth in said applica- 4tio'n and with other mechanism set forth, in

'l ment.

Patent No. 1,078,679 issued to me November 18. lf'llf. This patent sets forth a machine, especially adapted to the manufacture of halt-hose. which is a division of latcnt No. 1.078.077. issued to nic November 18. 1913, in which the needle cylinder is the stationary element and the cam cylinder the rotary elelt will therefore be understood that while the present application sets forth only such'part o a complete automatic circular knitting machine as is necessary to a full 'mderstandingi of the. present invention, such` Specication of ietters Patent.

- complete Patented Feb. 9, 1915/ Application led April 15, 1913. Serial No. 761,200.

machine, with the present iriveiY tion applied thereto, may be built by ne skilled inithe artl by reference to the lastmentioned Pateht No. 1,078,677 as modified by the first-mentioned application Serial No.

761,199; it being understood, however, that the present invention is not limited in its application to machines of the specific construction o those set forth in said applicaO tion and patents.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a part of the machine, illustrating principally the mechanism for rotating and oscillating the needle cylinder. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. ,Fig 3 is a detail sectional view showing the principal mechanism for shifting from rotation to oscillation and vice versa.. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine, partlyA broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of the machine. Fig. 6 is a development showing in diagram the cams for respectively raising and loweringthe rear bank of needles. Fig.

7 is a detail view, in plan, showing part ofv the needle cylinder and cam ring, the ordinary knitting cams and the means for mov ing the latter into position to permit leveling of allthe needles. Fig. 8 is a front view of Fig. 7 with the knittingcani actuating lever omitted. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 with the knitting cam actuating lever omitted.

'a is the frame of the machine and b the bed plate for the needle cylinder-cam ring and appurtenant mechanism. The needle cylinder e has secured to its lower end the driven gear 11 (which is actuated as hereinafter described), supported on the bed plate b.

The rotatable needle cylinder is provided with radial slots extending inward fromA its4 outer wall. the needles f, g, extending with in these slots and being movable upward therein tol render them inactive, as is well understood inthe ait.

Supported on the top ofthe bed plate is the cam ring lv, which carries vthelordinaiy knitting cams for actuating the needles.

As is well understood, during the knitting of the leg of the stocking. and during i the knitting of that part of .the stocking between the heel and toe (which l shall call the foot), the needle cylinder is continuously rotating and all the needles are moved down and in action. During the knitting of ics During the oscillation of the needle cylin der, the needles f extending throughout the remaining semi-circumference of the needle bed (that is, the front bank of needles) are .thrown out of action, one at a time, first at l 'zone end of the semi-circumference and then 1at the other end, and

llcttllelnclutch23sandsengag-ing Athe oscillator las 'also carries-1 be so on alternately until a limited number of needles in the central art of the semi-circumference are in action. `lhe needles are then thrown into action one at a time in the reverse order in which they are thrown out. This operation is effected by means of two sets of pickers whose construction and operation is set forth in said application Serial N o. 761,199 but which are not herein shown or described, as they form no art of the present invention.

he gear 11 on the knitting cylinder is driven from the gear 12 on the clutch shaft 20, on which are slidably mounted the two pinions 21 and 22, which have sleeves t0 which are yoked the vertically movable arms 24, 24, whlch are moved up or down in uni-ff@` son as hereinafter is fixed on the shaft 2Q, between pinionsz2l; and'22. The upper ;pinion"21.-' lisconstantly described. The .clutchf 23 vrotatedunid the; lower` pinion: 22 constantly pinion 21. The shaft 26 of the spurfgear 2 extend "theiorl between; at chine.

cam 63 coacts with the arm the shaft 69. These cams rotate together and may be integral one with another. Each cam has a high part and a lo part. The high part of cam 63 is adapted co coact with an arm 65 on the lever 62. The high part of cam 64 is adapted to coact with an arm 66 on the lever 62. When the high part of engaging end of the lever 62 is moved and held down, thereby moving down the post 60, the arms 24 andthe pinions 21 and 22,. thereby clutching pinion 21 with the clutch 23 and dictating the rotation of the needle cylinder. When the high part of cam 64 coacts with the arm 66, the post engaging end of lever 62 is held up, thereby dictating the oscillation of the needle cylinder. The length of the high part of each of the cams 65, the post- 63 and 64 corresponds with the len h of the I low part o f the other cam, an the arrangement is such that when the high part of one cam starts to ride under its corresponding lever arm, the high part of the other cam starts to recede from its corresponding lever ar Thus the lever 62 is always in positife engagement with one cam or the other.

The double cam 63, 64, is caused to ,turn by means of a pattern ratchet wheelcafnlso secured to the sleeve 67,.guhiclrgratchetmvheel 1s turned initiallysfbyiirstltutrning theisleve 67 andflthenibymeas nim [azwl .wat f lnipntertt Nbnlj'@ahbreinhefcreefer-red to is fullyasdtfontlripatlzeratsmeeha-- isacapableffoapplicsition to the present machine and needmnt ,therese n hlftythat l gust beforeetcisidesired toadiqnge fermarctmnitcmscxllatin .the tarmshattvslmhch ffgeagzedtesthefsleevn @Zehn meanest then- ,a he eminenti. Websense@ i cam 6l engages lever arm 15.', the postfengaging end ot' g' thel lmver or oscillatory bait if() and unA g2 the iotary pinion and cans-- 'he hurdle cylinder to oe illntt.

l constant rcciprocaton of the pawl T .f-liecml h v swuriai: to the hub ol lever 3l el pinion 51 whichdrives` a 0 pinion 523 on the Shaft (ifi. To this -iwiwed a holder #Si carrying the i. 'solo tim-.- the uiachine is shifted v:ciilatioii. 1t rs necessary i ion the rear bank of "lllllfv u; :i which actuating means is un: i ,oa n. .as il, forms no part of the wie f HVWWINHE.

,'ii fumtiaie are moved into operabi i` s por the pickers. not herein shown,

im a..;.in: out ot action. one at a time, at. ons: cud of the front bank'ot :rrd for moving ont of action. one

at time. also needles at the other end of if* the "uit bank of nerdles. In said application aM-rial No. i'lldflfi l have also shown towns, controlled lrv the cam ringr for renderings paul 'itl inopeiativc to turn the ratchet wheel Ga. pickers for effecting the reinstatement into operative position. one at of the needles f, previously rendered inoperative, in approximately the reverse mdrr in which they were prcvitmsly thrown out, 1.ntl means.- controiled by the ratchet 'i ri g J. tor controiling; their fipm'ation. Such moan are tally set,- i'orth in said application nviial Yo. TtLiiQ. but are not. herein set i'orth. :is Ihcv form no part of the present iovriitsra lt is suiiicient to say that, as be- !1 'or.' .l.-=t-ribcd. a'tcr the paal T0 turns the wirbt( uhrri it to :masc the shift rom r0- ratioa lo mediation and the ratchet wheel 2.

imno. ip rauw tlm cani m to move the c. .1 into ponton lo raise out of operative i, tlm roar imola ot ncodies y. the folhrw ,javi :tions futur: rthe needles f are .fist et of pickers. oui ot' operative z i that, tlm'. grashiallv nar-` i 5. :v upaai it* "riidcrcd tate, ,wel iin. the

, readrre. another .srt oi i mofa-ra tive into frailr ai on :it :e www.

uw fabric tia: 1an r-.wtiw to terr wheel, the machine is shifted from oscillation to rotation. a cam r on the ratchet ring l causes a needledepressing),r cam s to move lovvn into operative position the needles g ot' the rear bank, and all the pickers are rendered inoperative; thus again putting the machine into condition for rotary Work.

The needle-depressing cam s is herein shown diagrammatically. and reference may be had to said application Serial No. 761,199 for' a full' understanding of its specific o0nstruction and operation and the'means for operating it from the ratchet ring z'. it being understood that the specific structure of neither the mechanism for raising, nor the mechanism for lowering, the war-bank of needles f] is of materiality or importance lin connection with the present invention.

The above described series ot' operations occurs during the knittingr of both heel and toe. After the toe is completed, it is necessary to stop the machine. as hereinbefore described. l have adapted the Stop mechanism set forth in the hereinbefore mentioned Patents No. 1.078,67? and No. 1,078,679 to the. present machine. Such mechanism comprises a springactuated beltshit`ter, and means for controlling its operation. I have notl herein shown the belt shifter contrivance, as the saine is not necessary to be disclosed in order to fully understand the present invention. and any appropriate stop-contrivance may be employed; but I have herein shown the mechanism for controlling the stop-contrivance. as the same is directly connected with the ordinary knitting' cams. which connections are peculiar to the present invention. Such control mechanism will now be described.

The stop contrivance is controlled from a lever itil). which in turn is actuated by a fain-wheel 161. This cam-wheel is on a shaft 162, which also carries the ratchet wheel 163. (ln the main driving,y shaft t is a spur gear 113i?. meshing with a spur ,fear 16T. link 1(38 connects a crank pin on gear 167 with the outer end of the arm 1(35 at which point is carried a pawl 170. The arm 165 is loosely pivoted on shaft 162. The pawl 170 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 163. 'lhese teeth extend all the way around tht` periphery of the wheel 163 except for a blank space somewhat shorter in length than the space occupied by three teeth. Mechanism provided (as hereinafter described) whereby after the knitting of the toe is completed. the ratchet wheel 163 is turned to bringl the first tooth of the wheel into i: erativr relation with the paul. Thereafter the ratchet wheel ib?) will he turned a distance ol' one tooth at each revolution ot' the driving shaft. .titer the ratchet wheel 163 is turned any predetta" mined number of teeth. the cam wheel 1(11 actitates the lever 161') which in turn actuates the stop-contrivance, thereby stopping the machine. After the machine is re-started, the ratchet wheel 163 continues to turn until the pawl 170 has actuated the last 5 tooth. when it proceeds to play idly on the untoothed portion of the periphery o the wheel.

The ratchet wheel 163 is subsequently turned to bring the pawl 170 again into oplo erative relation with the ratchet wheel by the following means: On the shaft 77 is a' cam'wheel 171. A bell-crank lever 172 is pivoted on the machine frame, one arm of the level' being held in contact with the cam face of the wheel 171 by a spring 173 and the other arm of the lever being connected to the upper end of a link 174, the lower end of this link having a pin and slot connection I with the intermediate part of the lever 175. This lever is pivoted at one end on the machine frame and at the other end has a projection in line ot' travel of a lug 176 on the ratchet wheel 163. 0n the link 174 is a Afixed pawl 177 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 163. A spring 178, extending between projections on the lever 175 and link 174, maintains the pawl 177 in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 163. Just before the rst shift from oscillation to rotation which occurs in passing from heel to the foot) the cam wheel 171 (which is provided with two high points', the second being higher than the first) engages the lever 172. As the lever 172 rides upon the first high point of the cam wheel 171, the link 174 is depressed. In shifting from oscillation to rotation, the cam wheel 171 is turned still l farther and the lever 172 rides over the highest point of the cam. The ratchet 40 wheel 163 is thus turned by the pawl 177 but not a sufficient distance to bring the pawl 170 into operative relation with the rst tooth of the ratchet wheel.

During the knitting of the foot and toe the parts described remain in inoperative position, but on the shift from oscillation to rotation ati the beginning of circular knitting, the cam wheel 171 again acts upon the'l, lever 172 and link 1.74 as before described,

0 and at thisftimc the ratchet wheel 163 is advanced a suflicient distance to brin the pawl v1,70 in-to operative relation with t 1e ratchet wheel 163, whereupon the loperation of the latter proceeds as before described until the machine is stopped.

After themachine is stopped, all the neeL -dles are in operative position, that is, in the position they occupy in the knitting of circular fabric.

by turning the machine about two revolutions. During this action all the needles are acted upon by the ordinary knitting,r cams p and, save for the needles that are at .my 66-given time in :ii-tual engagement with the The yarn is broken by hand. and the stocking is pressi-,d ofi' the needles.

knitting cams, all the needles are on the same level. It is necessary, however, to bring all the needles on the same level and to eliect this end the following means are provided to disengage the ordinary knitting cams p 70 from the needles. As is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, these cams are mounted on a radially movable slide or carrier 200, which is sleeved loosely on a pin 201, which is threaded in the cam ring i. A, coil spring 202, surrounding the pin 201 and confined between the head of the pin and the slide 200, normally holds the slide 200 in its innermost position,

so that the cams p are in position to engage both the short butts of the needles f of the 30 front bank and the long butts of the needles g of the rear bank.

-It will be understood that if, after the fabric is pressed olf the needles as before described and While the knitting cams p are 35 in engagement with the long butt needles g, i the slide 200 be moved out, as shown in Fig.

9, far enough to enable the cams to entirely clear the short butts of the needles f, and then if the machine is turned by hand until 9o all the long butt needles {,1 pass beyond the knitting cams onto a common level, such of the short butt needles f as have by this time moved opposite the knitting cams will not have been engaged thereby but will have remained on the level to which they have been previously brought. and consequently all the needles f and g will be on the same level. This movement of the cam slide is effected automatically at the proper time by the following mechanism.

The cam slide 200 is shaped to engage the forked end of a lever 203 pivoted between its -ends on the main frame (see Figs. 4 and 5). The other end of this lever is pivotally 105 attached to one arm of a bell crank lever 204, also'pivoted on the main frame. The other arm of the bell crank lever is pivotally attached to a rod 205, the other end of which is pivotally attached to the arm 208, the end 206 of which is in line of movement of a A on the shaft 162.

cam 207 is so positioned 'ofthe shaft 162 that. after the machine 'is stopped. the cam 207 will operate the rod 205 on the third subsequent rotation. This allows the machine to be turned twice, as before described, to permit the fabric to-be pressed ofi' the needles, and then on the next turn, and while the knitting cams p are engaging cer-4 12o tain of the long butt needl. the knitting cams, by means of the connections above described, are drawn out into the position shown in Fig. 9. The machine. on this rotation is turned far enough to cause all the long butt needles to clear the knitting cams, but not far enough to bring any of the long butt needles again back to the cams. All the needles are thus brought onto a common level. The transferring operation then 15e Yinder, knitting;` cams normally proceeds, this operation, however, having nothing to do with my invention.

After the transferring operation the machine is given a couple of turns by hand to rengage the thread with the needles, At'- ter the needle cylinder turns part of a revolution to bring the long butt needles g in engagement with the cams p, the cam 20T recedes from the end 206 of arm 208 and the spring 202 at once moves the cam slide 200 inward to its normal operative position. After the cam slide .200 thus moves into itsl inward position, less than a complete turn of the needle cylinder operatively engages the cams p with all the short butt needles. Thereafter the cams operate alike on both banks of needles, the machine operating thereafter to continue rotary work and form the leg or ankle of the stocking until the shift to oscillation preparatory to knitting the heel.

The knitting cams on a machine of the charactermf that herein set forth are suhject to unequal wear due to the fact that on rotary work the cam which actsv as the stitchforming cam receives the greater wear.y ln .order that. notwithstanding this fact, the cams on both sides may be maintained on the same level, I cause the cam slide to rest upon two screws '210 engaging the cam ring. both of which are adjustable to vary the level of the corresponding end of the cam slide.

Having now fully described my invention. 'what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Circular knitting machine. in combination, the needle cylinder. the drivingr shaft, two setset needles in the needle cylin operative relation with both sets oi needles. means adaptedt render the cams inoperative to nctuabe one Set of needles` thereby pt rmitting all the needles of the other set to pan` through the cams in the tin-niner of' the needle cylinder and thus etl'em tln` low-ling of all the needles of both sets. incans to stop the machine. (connections from the driving shaft to the stop means` and thlll cani actua4 ing means to rst effect the operation ot said Stop means and next. in the subsequent man ual turning of the drivin;r shaft. to elTect the operation of said cam actuatinf.'` means: control means. and mechanism actuated thereby to render said connections .aarative. whereby the machine will be stopped at the propel' time to permit the subsequent leveling of all the needles preparatory to the' transferring operation.

Q. In a circular knitting machine. in combination, the needle cylinder. the driving shaft, two sets of needles in the ncede c vlindex', one set having relatively short butts and the other set having relatively long butts, a cam adapted to engage the long butt needles and move them out of opel-v tive position, a cam adapted to engage the long butt needles and return them to operative position, knitting cams normally in operative relation with both sets ot' needles hile the long butt needles are in operative position, means adapted to move the knit ting cams, while the long butt needles are in operative position, out of operative relation with the short butt needles while maintaining them operative with the long butt i-f alle. thereby permitting all the short butt needles to pass through the cams in the turning of the needle cylinder and thus effect the leveling ot' all the needles, means to stop the machine. connections from the driving shaft to the stop means and the knitting cam moving means to eect their operation, control means and mechanism actuated thereby to render said connections operative, whereby the machine will be stopped at the proper time to permit the leveling of all the needles preparatory to the transferring operation.

3. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotatable needle cylinder. a relatively stationary cam ring. the driving shaft. rotary driving means and oscillatory driving means connected with and operable from the driving shaft. shifting mechanisn'i for alternately connecting the two driving means with the needle cylinder. pattern controlled means governing the operation of the shifting mechanism. pawl and ratchet mechanism. control means to place the pawl and ratchet mechanism in driving relation with the driving shaft. knitting cams. means and mechanism actuated thereby controlled by the pawl and ratchet mechanism to stop the machine. and means operable bv the pawl and ratchet mcchanis'n adapted to render the knittingr cams inoperative to actuate certain needles while maintaining their operative relation with other needles. thereby permitting the pawl and ratchet mechanism to eil'ect the stoppage of the machine and permit the leveling ot' the needles at a stage in the operation dictated by said control INCHES.

l. ln a circular knitting machine. the combination with the needle cylinder. the cam ring. the driving shaft. and pattern controlled means, ;overnin;r the rotation of the. needle cylinder. of pawl and ratchet mechanism. means actuated by said pattern`controlled means to place the pawl and ratchet mechanism in driven relation with the driving shaft. two sets of needles in the needle cylinder. one Set having relatively short butts and the other set having relatively long butts, knitting cams, a slide, carrying the cams.' movable radially, on the cam ring, said cams being adapte in one position to engage the butts of all the needles and in another position to clear Ithe short butt needles, a lever connected with and adapted to move the slide into the last-named cam ringsaid means being adjustable to position, a spring normally holding the permit the vertical adjustment of one end slide in the first-named position, a bellof the carrier relatively to the other. crank connected with and adapted to op- 8. In a circular knitting machine, the erate said lever, a rod connected with and combination with theneedlecylinderand cam adapted to operate the bell crank, and a cam ring, of the knitting cams, a carrier therecarried by the pawl and ratchet mechanism for, two supports for the knitting cam cal'- and adapted toV operate said rod. rier between the cam ring and the carrier 5. In 1n a circular knitting machine, the at opposite ends of the latter, said supports 1o combination with the needle cylinder and being vertically adjustable relatively one two sets of. needles therein, one set having to the other. Yrelatively short butts and the other set hav- 9. In a circular knitting machine, the ing relatively long butts, of a cam ring, combination with the needle cylinder and a radially isposed in thereon, a slide cam ring, of the knitting cams, a slide radi@ 50 loosely mounted on the pin, a spring beally movable on the cam ring and carrying tween the head of the pin and the slide tend-f the knitting cams, and supports for oppoing to hold the latter in its innA position, site ends of the slide, said supports being seitting cams on the slide in alinement with cured to the cam ring and vertically adthe b utts of all the needles when the slide is justable thereon relatively one to the other. 55

in said position, and an actuating lever, conl0. In a circular knitting machine, the

nected with the slide, adapted to move the combination with the needle cylinder, and slide out, against the action of said spring, cam ring, of the knitting cams, a radially to cause the knitting cams to clear the short movable slide carrying the knitting cams, a butt'needles. radially disposed in on which the slide is 60 6. In a circular knitting machine, the loosely sleeved, an screws on opposite sides combination with the needle cylinder and of the pin, said screws being threaded in the cam ring, of the knitting cams, a carrier cam ring and supporting o posite end porthereor supported on the cam ring, and ltions of the cam-carrying side.

means between the carrier and the cam ring In testimony of which invention, I have r;

to adjust one end of the carrier relatively hereunto set my hand, at Phila. Pa., on this to the other end to compensate for wear. 3rd day of April, 1913.

7. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with theneedlecylinder and cam HARRY A' HOUSEMAI" ring, of the knitting cams, a carrier` there- Witnesses: for, and means between the carrier and the WM. P. BROCKEMANN,

cam ring to support the carrier from the A. K. DoUuHERTI. 

